Compensation for Suicidal Thoughts After a Car Accident in Delray Beach

A car accident in Delray Beach can dramatically affect your life, to the point where you begin to believe that life isn’t even worth living anymore. If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts after a car accident, you might wonder whether it’s possible to pursue additional compensation. Consider expanding on this conversation with an experienced auto accident attorney.

You Are Not Alone

The first thing you need to understand in this situation is that you are not alone. Help is available, and you should consider speaking with a mental health professional if you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts after your car accident.

Many people struggle with these kinds of issues after car accidents. Some begin to believe that life is no longer worth living due to permanent disabilities, disfiguring injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other life-altering health issues.

Others struggle with something called “survivor’s guilt.” You may feel guilty about surviving the crash if everyone else in your vehicle perished. These might have been close friends or family members, and you may feel terrible about being the only one who lived.

Sometimes, car accident victims become addicted to powerful painkillers and other drugs during the recovery process. These drugs can have mind-altering effects, and they can push you closer and closer toward suicide.

Suicidal Ideation Could Be a “Non-Economic Damage”

If you feel that you deserve additional compensation for your suicidal ideations after your car accident, you have every right to pursue this “non-economic damage.” One might argue that suicidal thoughts fall into the general categories of “emotional distress,” “mental anguish,” or “pain & suffering.”

Suicidal thoughts might also be connected with disfigurement, a separate non-economic damage. One might also associate suicidal ideations with depression, which you may claim as a non-economic damage. Speak with your attorney to determine how best to recover compensation for your psychological challenges. 

You May Need Medical Records to Support Your Claims

If you plan to highlight your suicidal ideations as part of your auto accident claim, it makes sense to gather the necessary medical records. If you were never officially diagnosed with having suicidal ideations, it may be difficult to claim this damage in court.

Even if you’re doubtful about seeing a psychologist, therapist, or counselor, it still makes sense to attempt treatment. If nothing else, it will create the medical records you need to prove non-economic damages. If you have attempted suicide since your car accident, the associated medical records may also be important in your subsequent claim.

Can an Auto Accident Attorney in Delray Beach Help Me?

If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts after a car accident in Delray Beach, you might want to contact an injury attorney to determine whether you’re eligible for additional compensation. Generally speaking, suicidal ideations should fall into the general category of emotional distress or pain & suffering. Expand on this conversation during a confidential consultation with Steinberg Law.

Source: 

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001457504000983